Where's the Loot should get the right setup

CYPRESS, Calif. – The lightly-raced 3-year-old Where’s the Loot could go from a start in an allowance race at Los Alamitos on Sunday to a stakes appearance at Del Mar in early August.

Trained by Tim Yakteen for Sausalito Partners LLC, Where’s the Loot will have his third career start in an allowance race for California-breds at 6 1/2 furlongs, the final race on a nine-race program.

The Los Alamitos summer meeting ends Sunday. There is a mandatory payout in the $2 pick six. Del Mar begins its summer meeting on July 20.

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Where’s the Loot won a $50,000 claimer for maidens in his debut on May 4 at Santa Anita, when he closed from fourth in a field of eight. In his first start against winners in an allowance race for 3-year-old statebreds at six furlongs on June 8, Where’s the Loot took an early lead from an inside post and faded to finish third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

“Last time, we were kind of forced” to go to the lead, Yakteen said. “We drew the one hole and I didn’t think we had enough experience to get buried on the inside. We opted for the lead that day to get a clear run.”

In Sunday’s race, Where’s the Loot drew the outside post in a full field of 12. The race drew 13, with So I’m Told on the also-eligible list.

An outside draw does not concern Yakteen, considering the way Where’s the Loot won his debut, the presence of speedy runners to follow in the early furlongs, and a long run down the backstretch to the turn that will give jockey Diego Herrera a chance to save some ground.

Herrera rode Where’s the Loot in his first two starts.

“I think we have a good draw,” Yakteen said. “He’ll enjoy Los Al. We go from the inside to the outside. I think he can ride his race from the outside.”

If Where’s the Loot runs well Sunday, a start in the $150,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for 3-year-old statebreds at seven furlongs on Aug. 2 at Del Mar is a possibility.

To win on Sunday, Where’s the Loot must catch Beer Money and Disobey, who are both capable of setting the pace.

Beer Money finished fifth of eight in an allowance race for statebreds at six furlongs on turf on June 15 at Santa Anita in his first start for trainer Gary Stute, who claimed him off a second-place finish in a $32,000 claimer on June 7.

Disobey won consecutive starts at Santa Anita in February and March by leading throughout. He was third by four lengths in an allowance race at six furlongs on June 9 after dueling for the early lead.

Sunday’s allowance race is the first start since last August for the two-time winner In Vronsky Style, who has worked well at Los Alamitos for his comeback. In Vronsky Style is another starter capable of racing near the lead.

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